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George Wyle | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bernard Weissman (1916-03-22)March 22, 1916 New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 2, 2003(2003-05-02) (aged 87) Tarzana, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Orchestral leader - composer |
George Wyle (bornBernard Weissman; March 22, 1916 – May 2, 2003) was an Americanorchestra leader and composer best known for having written the theme song to 1960s televisionsitcomGilligan's Island. He is the grandfather of musicianAdam Levy.
Wyle was born to aJewish family.[1] In the late 1940s and early 1950s his orchestra served as backup for a number ofColumbia Records singers, includingDoris Day. Some of the recordings (including "I Said My Pajamas (and Put on My Pray'rs)" in 1949 and "I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell" in 1950) were of his own compositions.
Wyle wrote withSherwood SchwartzThe Ballad of Gilligan's Island, the theme song forGilligan's Island. He also co-wrote the Christmas song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (first recorded byAndy Williams in 1963) and more than 400 other songs. His chief musical collaborator wasEddie Pola.[2]
Wyle served as the musical director forThe Flip Wilson Show during the early 1970s and also served as music director and arranger forJohn Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.[citation needed] He served on the Board of Directors of TheAmerican Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) from 1979 to his death in 2003.
